Monthly Archives

November 2018

Insider’s Tips to Winning More Grants

By | Grant Management | No Comments

There’s something about seeing a looming grant funding deadline that sets nonprofits into a tizzy. The grant writer polishes off another pot of coffee while the director paces the office chanting, “Is it done yet?” And, at the end of the process, when you click submit or seal the package for the post office, you wonder whether or not it’s all worth it. Will you get the grant?

Seven Common Grant Writing Mistakes – And How to Avoid Them

We’re here to tell you that you can significantly increase the odds of winning more grants by following a few simple steps. These steps aren’t rocket science. They may strike you as common sense. But a recent informal survey among foundation personnel who review grant applications found some common mistakes among the applications they received. By being aware of these mistakes, you can sidestep them and make your grant applications shine.

Mistake #1 – No Preparation

Grant applications should not be written without preparation. Study the granting organization. Review the last three years of winners. What do they have in common? How can you target your grant so that you have a better chance of receiving funds?

Mistake #2 – Late Applications

We know that work can get busy, but that doesn’t give you an excuse for turning in your grant application late. Always be on time!

Mistake #3 – Stuffing the Package

Sure, you want to impress the people who will review the grant application with every proof of your organization’s excellent work. But pick and choose what you would like to present. Too much information overwhelms reviewers and makes you seem disorganized. Refine the enclosures to support the central message of your package.

Mistake #4 – Vague Proposals

Vague language derails many proposals. Be specific about how you plan to use the grant funds and how it aligns with both your mission and that of the foundation providing the funds. The more specifics you can include in your grant application, the better.

Mistake #5 – Budgets that Don’t Add Up

Do the math. Recheck it. Make sure that any budget numbers included in the proposal are both realistic and accurate. The financials should support the logic that flows through the proposal. Err on the side of realism rather than optimism and have someone double check your figures.

Mistake #6 – Caught Off Guard

You get the call you’ve been waiting for – the foundation is interested, and your application is among the top for consideration. Now they have specific questions about the programs outlined in your application. Don’t be caught off guard. Have a comprehensive plan ready to share with foundation directors when and if they call you.

Mistake #7 – Failing to Say Thank You

Even if you don’t get the grant, say thank you. Thank foundation directors and anyone else at the organization who helped you with any aspect of the  grant application. A sincere thank you goes a long way towards making a positive impression for your organization.

Successful grant applications take time and effort and can be stressful.. With these tips, you’ve just stepped ahead of many others who aren’t taking the time to learn more about the grant application process. Good luck, stay focused, and here’s to your success.

Welter Consulting

Welter Consulting bridges people and technology together for effective solutions for nonprofit organizations. We offer software and services that can help you with your accounting needs. Please contact Welter Consulting at 206-605-3113 for more information.

The Importance of Internal Controls for Your Nonprofit Organization

By | Internal Controls | No Comments

He may be your most trusted employee, someone who has been with your organization for years. Nevertheless, no one should be exempt from internal controls. Not even the CEO of your nonprofit should be allowed an exception to the controls put into place to safeguard your nonprofit’s financial integrity.

Although nonprofits tend to attract trusting (and trustworthy) sorts of people, according to figures reported on GuideStar, the median loss to fraud at nonprofits is $100,000. That’s a lot of money that could be better spent helping your organization achieve its mission rather than helping Mr. or Miss Thief buy luxuries.

People are often surprised when learning the identity of the person who committed the fraud. “I never thought she would do something like that!” or “Him? He’s the most loyal employee I know!” are common refrains. Fraud often occurs when people succumb to temptation. It may be spur of the moment or planned, but it doesn’t exist in isolation. Fraud happens because situations are favorable for theft.

Locking the Virtual Door

Would you leave your door unlocked when you leave your house to go to work? Of course not. It’s not that you don’t trust or like your neighbors. You may live in a beautiful neighborhood surrounded by lovely people, but that’s not the point. An open door is an invitation for thieves to come in and enjoy themselves. A locked door discourages casual entry and provides a simple barrier that turns thieves away.

Similarly, your nonprofit must create its own “locked doors” in the form of internal controls.

Internal controls consist of the steps, policies, and procedures enacted around the handling, storage, and recording of money. Safeguarding assets as well as ensuring accurate data (recorded transactions and financial information) are two critical steps to prevent nonprofit fraud.

Guidelines for Internal Controls

The general guidelines for internal controls include a clear separation of duties, accountability, and transparency.

  1. Separation of duties: Different people should be assigned the responsibility of recording transactions, authorizing transactions, and maintaining control over assets. For example, the person who locks the cash box in the safe should not be the same person who records all the transactions. The person who can authorize a return at a charity shop should not be the same person who is authorized to open the register and remove the money at the end of the day. Keeping duties separate ensures that one person alone cannot be tempted to take the money and cover it up by altering the records. It puts into action a sequence of checks and balances against the finances that should catch any mistakes or at least deter people from considering theft.
  2. Accountability: Audits are a great way to ensure accountability. An official annual audit should be supplemented by ad hoc, unannounced audits to discourage fraud. Another aspect of accountability is record-keeping. Clear, consistent recording of financial information is vital for accountability. Make sure that all accounts receivable are updated daily, and that bank deposits are made promptly. Do not leave checks in drawers waiting for deposit day. The same goes for cash boxes; have an additional person present when cash boxes are opened, and petty cash is counted or distributed. Each of these steps improves accountability.
  3. Transparency: All policies regarding internal controls should be documented in writing. Staff must be trained on such policies and reminded of the exact policy if adherence becomes lax. Lastly, enact a confidential reporting mechanism in which people can alert management if they discover fraud. Take all reports seriously and follow up on them promptly.

It may seem like an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy to enact these procedures, but as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. How much is an hour or two of your time worth? Surely it is worth more than $100,000, the median amount lost to nonprofit fraud every year. Take an hour or two now to enact internal controls and prevent nonprofit fraud.

Welter Consulting

Welter Consulting bridges people and technology together for effective solutions for nonprofit organizations. We offer software and services that can help you with your accounting needs. Please contact Welter Consulting at 206-605-3113 for more information.

Ready, Set, Go – File W2 Forms Easily with Our Handy Tips

By | Year-End | No Comments

We’re rapidly coming to the end of the calendar year. As the festivities celebrating the holidays and the New Year are underway, it’s not too soon to start thinking about W2 requirements for nonprofits.

Nonprofits are subject to the same regulations concerning employee taxes and social security taxes as for-profits, with a few exceptions. Clergy may opt out of social security, for example, and thus, religious institutions may choose to exempt their clergy from paying into social security.

Employees sometimes erroneously believe that working for a tax-exempt organization makes them tax-free too. It does not. It is incumbent upon your organization to issue W2s in a timely fashion and to assist employees with any background paperwork they need to report income and taxes accurately.

W2 Preparation

Preparing W2 forms doesn’t have to be a laborious process. Take time now to run through this simple checklist of what you need to prepare W2 forms for your employees and gather together all the paperwork and info you need so that you have it on hand.

  1. W4 Forms: You are required by law to have a W4 form on file for every employee of your company. Each employee should complete the W4 form upon being hired by your nonprofit. It includes their legal name, federal income tax withholding, marital status, number of dependents, and any additional information to assist with withholding accuracy. Employees can update their W4 forms at any time and should review them annually to make sure that no information has changed. They may also update their additional withholding at any time.
  2. Legal identification information: Ask employees to verify all of their legal information including their name, social security number, and mailing address. You’d be surprised at how many people forget to alert the HR department when they move or change names.
  3. Organization information: Confirm the organization’s information for W2 forms as well. You will need the legal entity name, address, contact name, email address, state and federal ID numbers.
  4. Annual payroll reports: Even if your nonprofit operates on a different fiscal year, the W2 is always calculated on the calendar year. Run your reports now. These should include Payroll Summary Report, Employer Summary Report, Master Adjustments Report for Deductions, Contributions and Other Income, and quarterly 941s.
  5. Generate W2 forms: You can use an automated system to generate W2 forms or use the IRS W2 form to prepare each employees’ forms.
  6. Print the W3: The W3 remains in your offices and provides a copy of all of the data submitted.
  7. File W2: The W2 forms must be filed with the appropriate government agencies by January 31.

Do Small Nonprofits File W2 and W3 Forms?

All nonprofits, regardless of the number of employees, must file W2 and W3 forms. You may think it’s silly to file these forms if it’s only yourself and a handful of others who work at your nonprofit. But you and others will need W2 forms to complete your income tax forms and to adhere to all government regulations.

All of the forms that you need to complete, along with detailed instructions, may be found on the IRS website. It’s easy to complete W2s, just tedious to collect and confirm the data needed. Start now to ensure that you’re all set in January to get those form files.

Welter Consulting

Welter Consulting bridges people and technology together for effective solutions for nonprofit organizations. We offer software and services that can help you with your accounting needs. Please contact Welter Consulting at 206-605-3113 for more information.